Post by JimRatliff on Nov 17, 2015 14:08:00 GMT -7
I don't know if anyone even reads the bike sections, but I enjoy copying the stuff I find, so here goes.
This following is copied from a Velonews article where they tested and ranked 34 tires based on rolling resistance. I have used a couple of these, and my anecdotal experience seems in line with what they say. The Continental GP4000S was my tire before deciding to go tubeless. My first tubeless tire was a Maxxis Padrone (didn't make the top 34) and then a Hutchinson Intensive. The Padrone's were OK, I didn't like the Hutchinson at all, so this year I switched to the Schwalbe One tubeless and "all of a sudden" I could just ride away from Lynn, even going downhill where her Zipp wheels really provide a wind resistance advantage (that and her smaller body). The Schwalbe One tubeless is 9th at 38.2 watts per tire. Lynn finally wore out her old Michelin Lithions (48.5 watts per tire) and we replaced with the GP4000S (34 watts per tire) and suddenly we were even in speed again. I still had trouble believing that a tire (or two) could make that much difference, until reading this article. I have been wishing Continental would make a tubeless tire; now they are (sort of) but the name on the tire is Specialized and I'll probably buy a pair next year.
Also, take a close look at numbers 1 and 5. Same tire in different widths, and wider is better. Many have been saying that in recommending 25mm vs 23 mm width tires, but the old guard still believes that narrow tires pumped to 250 psi are the most efficient. Of course, you probably need new wheels to go to 28mm tires, and even 25mm tires don't fit on Lynns titanium race bike.
Just for reference, the average rider needs about 150 watts to maintain 17 mph on level ground and about 190 watts for 19 mile per hour. Save 15-20 watts per tire is a free 1-2 mph increase in average speed (and much more downhill).
***********
Link to the full Article at VeloNews
It’s striking to see that four of the top five tires in our test come from Specialized. But the truth is that all five come from the same tire design team. The 25-millimeter Continental GP 4000S II — which, with its Black Chili tread compound, has been one of the world’s best-selling high-end clinchers for years—was created by the same engineers now running tire development for Specialized.
What we found out: While supple and wider tires roll fast, tread compound is paramount. Like most cyclists, we assumed that a fine-thread, non-vulcanized casing (its thread is spiral-wrapped around a drum with only raw liquid latex brushed over it and no heat added) would offer the least rolling resistance. But only one of the top five tires in the test was a non-vulcanized open tubular. The other four were fully vulcanized tires (the entire tire is cooked in a mold, melting the rubber throughout all of the layers) with casings strung on a “calendar” (a big loom on which rubber is pressed into the fabric).
So if you’re looking for a fast tire, don’t be afraid to go wide, and don’t have blind faith in conventional wisdom about compounds and tubes. The fastest tire in our test — the Specialized S-Works Turbo Tubeless Light — was vulcanized and full of sealant.
Here, ranked in order, are the 34 tires from our test, with the power, in watts, each requires to maintain a speed of 40kph. So double it to get the figure for two tires — unless you’re trying to figure out Peter Sagan’s wheelie power.
(see the full chart at the link above).
1. Specialized S-Works Turbo Road Tubeless 28mm - 31.8 watts
3. Specialized S_Works Turbo (tube) - 32.8 watts
4. Continental GP4000S II (tube) - 34 watts
5. Specialized S-Works Turbo Road Tubeless 24mm - 34.8 watts
This following is copied from a Velonews article where they tested and ranked 34 tires based on rolling resistance. I have used a couple of these, and my anecdotal experience seems in line with what they say. The Continental GP4000S was my tire before deciding to go tubeless. My first tubeless tire was a Maxxis Padrone (didn't make the top 34) and then a Hutchinson Intensive. The Padrone's were OK, I didn't like the Hutchinson at all, so this year I switched to the Schwalbe One tubeless and "all of a sudden" I could just ride away from Lynn, even going downhill where her Zipp wheels really provide a wind resistance advantage (that and her smaller body). The Schwalbe One tubeless is 9th at 38.2 watts per tire. Lynn finally wore out her old Michelin Lithions (48.5 watts per tire) and we replaced with the GP4000S (34 watts per tire) and suddenly we were even in speed again. I still had trouble believing that a tire (or two) could make that much difference, until reading this article. I have been wishing Continental would make a tubeless tire; now they are (sort of) but the name on the tire is Specialized and I'll probably buy a pair next year.
Also, take a close look at numbers 1 and 5. Same tire in different widths, and wider is better. Many have been saying that in recommending 25mm vs 23 mm width tires, but the old guard still believes that narrow tires pumped to 250 psi are the most efficient. Of course, you probably need new wheels to go to 28mm tires, and even 25mm tires don't fit on Lynns titanium race bike.
Just for reference, the average rider needs about 150 watts to maintain 17 mph on level ground and about 190 watts for 19 mile per hour. Save 15-20 watts per tire is a free 1-2 mph increase in average speed (and much more downhill).
***********
Link to the full Article at VeloNews
It’s striking to see that four of the top five tires in our test come from Specialized. But the truth is that all five come from the same tire design team. The 25-millimeter Continental GP 4000S II — which, with its Black Chili tread compound, has been one of the world’s best-selling high-end clinchers for years—was created by the same engineers now running tire development for Specialized.
What we found out: While supple and wider tires roll fast, tread compound is paramount. Like most cyclists, we assumed that a fine-thread, non-vulcanized casing (its thread is spiral-wrapped around a drum with only raw liquid latex brushed over it and no heat added) would offer the least rolling resistance. But only one of the top five tires in the test was a non-vulcanized open tubular. The other four were fully vulcanized tires (the entire tire is cooked in a mold, melting the rubber throughout all of the layers) with casings strung on a “calendar” (a big loom on which rubber is pressed into the fabric).
So if you’re looking for a fast tire, don’t be afraid to go wide, and don’t have blind faith in conventional wisdom about compounds and tubes. The fastest tire in our test — the Specialized S-Works Turbo Tubeless Light — was vulcanized and full of sealant.
Here, ranked in order, are the 34 tires from our test, with the power, in watts, each requires to maintain a speed of 40kph. So double it to get the figure for two tires — unless you’re trying to figure out Peter Sagan’s wheelie power.
(see the full chart at the link above).
1. Specialized S-Works Turbo Road Tubeless 28mm - 31.8 watts
3. Specialized S_Works Turbo (tube) - 32.8 watts
4. Continental GP4000S II (tube) - 34 watts
5. Specialized S-Works Turbo Road Tubeless 24mm - 34.8 watts